Softball

Broncos Swept by Portland State

PORTLAND, Ore. - The Santa Clara softball team lost its first Pacific Coast Softball Conference series of the season to Portland State. The Broncos fell 11-6 in the morning and 8-2 in the afternoon at Erv Linden Stadium in Portland, Ore. Freshman Kristin Welsh led the SCU offense on the day, as the Bronco shortstop went 2-for-6 with five RBIs.

In the early contest, the Vikings took a 6-0 lead in the first four innings of play. In the bottom of the fifth inning, SCU rallied back with four runs. Briana Knight reached first off a fielder's choice to lead the off the inning. Breann Netto followed with a single to center field and pitch hitter Catherine Surane was walked to load the bases. With the bags filled, Emily Batt came to the plate. Batt was hit by a pitch to score Knight. With a run on the board and an out, Nicole Picard grounded out to shortstop to score a second SCU run. Concluding the Santa Clara offensive inning was Welsh who doubled to left center to score Jackie Nicora and Batt.

With the score within two, PSU responded with three additional runs in the sixth and seventh to boost their lead to 11-4. In a last ditch effort in the bottom of the seventh, the Broncos saw five straight batters reach a base. Stephanie Smith, who pitch hit for Picard, got hit by a pitch to score Nicora and earn her first RBI of the season. Welsh posted her third RBI of the game and Santa Clara's final run, when she walked with the bases loaded to score Batt.

The Vikings closed out the weekend sweep with an 8-2 victory. Welsh singled to center field for her second two-RBI hit of the day. She went 1-for-3 with two RBIs in the game. SCU tallied three hits in the game to Portland State's 13. Batt and Picard posted SCU's remaining two hits in the game.

On the mound Kaitlyn Rauschnot combined for two strikeouts and her sixth complete game on the day.

Santa Clara returns home after a month straight of road games to host their PCSC home opener versus Loyola Marymount. SCU will host the Lions from April 10-11 at West Valley College Softball Field.